Published 8:00 pm, Tuesday, May 4, 2004

Central Middle School seventh grader Doug Ortega rakes a front yard along Haley Street during Day of Caring Tuesday. More than 70 seventh graders, along with teachers and parents, spent the morning cleaning yards in neighborhoods around the school.

She looked down pensively, biting her lip, carefully choosing a plan of attack.

Crouched on her knees, 14-year-old Abbie Keel hovered over a giant weed that clung to the earth.

"Ugh," Keel said. "This must be Superweed or something," she said as she struggled to yank the plant by its root.

Then her eyes lit up.

"Superweed is out!" she shouted along with three other classmates who huddled next to her.

Together they danced around the dangling foot-long root, celebrating their victory on the front yard of a Haley Street home.

Like Keel, about 70 other Central Middle School seventh graders gathered to clean yards across six Midland neighborhoods for elderly and disabled residents. It was just one of more than 10 Day of Caring projects sponsored by the Voluntary Action Center to provide assistance to low-income and disabled residents.

Throughout the week, up to 400 children and adults are expected to volunteer for these projects. Anyone interested in participating still can contact the center, said Pat Pashak, VAC community program coordinator. The projects range from raking leaves to collecting and recycling old tires.

After a positive response from Central Middle School volunteers last year, organizers decided it was time for dirty fingernails once again.

And though, at first, some students grumbled at the thought of doing yard work, they quickly discovered the power of collaboration and the depth behind picking up just one leaf for someone.

"Its not fair that some people cant move around by themselves," 12-year-old Lauren Gray said. "Everyone deserves a clean yard."

Ken Benjamin, 56, and his friend Jim Warner, 63, have lived in their Haley Street home for more than 10 years and have physical and mental disabilities. Although the two couldnt greet the children outside, caregiver Julie Olney smiled at the children through the window.

"Many times people with disabilities are forgotten because many people are afraid of whats different," she said. "So seeing young people putting any fears aside and helping someone who really needs it means a lot."

With brooms in hand, 12-year-olds Travis Glynn and Matthew Haelterman raced down a porch deck, sweeping every spot along the way.

"Its a lot more fun when you dont have to do it yourself," the two said, laughing down the deck.

Once the lawn bags were full and the working gloves put away, the students walked away from the house, resting the rakes on their shoulders.

"Hey, we should do this every month," Gray said to the others as they walked back toward school.